Category Archives: Biodiversity

Located in the city of Silay, Balaring Mangrove Park is a coastal reforestation program of the city government of Silay in cooperation with the Japanese group called “Ikaw-Ako Japan – Negros Partnership for Environment Protection”.

The partnership was made possible through Professor Yorihisa Goto of Nihon Fukushi University and Lieutenant Yunichuro Doi an officer of the Japanese Imperial Army during the second world war. Doi escaped to Patag at the height of the American campaign to free Negros from the Japanese forces.

This mangrove forest park is managed by the local residents of Balaring specifically the Mangrove Planters Association who also worked closely with the city government of Silay. The members oversee the planting, protection and maintenance of the mangrove forest park.

If you tour the place, you will be able to see those mangrove trees growing abundantly from the entrance of the mangrove park up to the coastal area of Balaring facing the Strait of Guimaras. Species of mangroves like Bakhaw, Pagatpat, and Bungalon are abundant in the park.

The bamboo bridge that starts at the entrance of the mangrove forest park, extends up to the coast. The bridge gives the visitors an opportunity to appreciate the mangroves when they begin navigating the whole area using the bamboo bridge.

Along the way, there are rest houses that visitors can use to relax. A restroom is also available in the area. A lookout or a tower made of bamboo and lumber had been constructed to enable the visitors to see the expanse of the whole mangrove forest park as well as appreciate the view of the Strait of Guimaras. An entrance fee is collected by the management of the park.

For those who are planning to visit the area, please be advised to bring a black plastic bag for your rubbish. Let us keep the mangrove forest park free of garbage.

On my first visit, I had to rush to reach the coastal area but the rain stopped me when I reached the curve portion of the bridge. I decided to return to the entrance where there are houses so I can stay out of the rain.

My visit to Balaring Mangrove Forest Park was brief, very brief, but it gave me an idea that when the community and local leaders unite to protect the coastal areas as well as provide shelter and spawning area for all aquatic life and even provide sanctuary for the birds, then the whole project can succeed.

Balaring Mangrove Park is located at Barangay Balaring, Silay City, in the province of Negros Occidental. Continue reading →

Benham Rise is a submerged extinct volcanic ridge located at 16 degrees 30 minutes N, 124 degrees 45 minutes E off the coast of Luzon, with the size of about 250 km in diameter and rises over 2,000 meters (2 km.) above the sea floor, from below 5,000 meters (5 km.) below sea level to above 3,000 meters (3 km.) below sea level. Its area is close to the Benham Seamount, located at 15 degrees 48 minutes N, 124 degrees 15 minutes E. The precise location is somewhere near the east of the Philippine Trench and near the south of the East Luzon Trench, both of which absorb the subducting force of thePhilippine Sea Plate under the Philippine Mobile Belt,[4] a collage of large blocks of that crust that amalgamated prior to the collision of the Philippine Sea Plate with the Eurasian Plate.[5]

The origin of the landform, along with a fellow landform, the Urdaneta Plateau (a remnant of mantle plume), is identified in one study as at least five sequences of propagating rifts, probably triggered by mantleflowing away from the mantle thermal anomaly.[6] Its presence of the landform disrupts the continuity of this region (known as the Philippine-East Luzon Trench) by continuously colliding with the Sierra Madre mountain range of eastern portion of the island of Luzon. Though it is generally thought that the Philippine Sea Plate is being subducted under the Philippine Mobile Belt, under the rules of tectonicsubduction, there appears to be a resistance to this because of the presence of the landform, and instead, the plate is being displaced into the northern portion of Luzon to the west.[7][8] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benham_Plateau)

The geophysical features of the plateau may have been the result of an early Miocene collision event between the Benham Rise and the eastern margin of Luzon, which may have also allowed the inception of the NW striking strand of the Philippine fault.[9] These forces may have impacted the shape of the island of Luzon because of the basaltic sea floor resisting the subduction that may have also cause the bending of thePhilippine Fault.[10] The active basins in Central Luzon, which trace an asymmetrical V shape, is the best place to observe recent tectonic evolution of the fault system.(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benham_Plateau)

The landform is presumably named after Admiral Andrew Ellicot Kennedy Benham (1832–1905) by American surveyors who were the probable discoverers of the geological feature. He was a United States Navyofficer, who served with both the South Atlantic and West Gulf Blockading Squadrons during the American Civil War.[11] There has been speculation in the scientific community about the nature of the landform. Following the major 16 July 1990 Luzon earthquake, scientists reconsidered their fault models and decided it likely that Benham Plateau has similarly displaced the Philippine Fault System to the west.[12] After analysing older models such as that of Pinet and Stephan (1989), scientists reconsidered their fault models. They thought that it is highly likely that the Benham Plateau is still displacing Central Luzon and the Philippine Fault System to the west, which may have had an impact in causing such a catastrophic earthquake. The 20 second to 50 second wave in the 1990 quake that developed a new east-west sub-fault was so strong that it terminated disastrously at the city of Baguio in Benguet, Cordillera. Several scientific surveys, conducted between 2004 and 2008, collected hydrographic data that determined the morphology of the seabed in the region. Additional data from international bathymetric surveys and an analysis of international research projects were collected to support the findings.[13] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benham_Plateau)

Benham Rise has been part of the culture of ancient Filipinos. Ancient Catanduanes people have fished and roamed the area long before the colonial era. In fact, it is celebrated in Catandunganons’ folktales, legends and poetry. Today, large percentage of fish caught by Catandunganon comes from Benham Rise. Its local bicol term is called Kalipung-awan (means loneliness in an isolated place). (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benham_Plateau)

Territorial waters of the Philippines. The Benham rise is located directly east of Luzon.

Despite its proximity to the archipelago, the plateau was previously not included in the territory of the Philippines. On 8 April 2009, the Republic of the Philippines lodged a partial territorial waters claim with the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf in relation to the continental shelf in the region of Benham Rise.[14] It was submitted as part of petition expanding the archipelago’s baselines and exclusive economic zone through a law that also included other claims involving disputed territories of the Kalayaan Islands (Spratly Islands) and Scarborough Shoal. Although the landform, in itself, is not disputed, the petition still received some criticism inside and outside the country because of its controversial nature.[15] According to the government’s claim, based on a set of guidelines by the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, the area satisfies the 350-mile constraint line since the outer limits of the continental shelf are located landward of the constraint line, which is located 350 miles from the baselines where the measurement of the breadth of the territorial sea begins.[13] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benham_Plateau)

The Congress of the Philippines enacted Republic Act No. 9522, also known as the Archipelagic Baselines Law, which is the basis of the claim. According to the document the region is bounded by the Philippine Basin on the north and east, and by Luzon on the west and south. It asserted that, according to scientific data based on seismic, magnetic, other geological features, the Benham Rise is an extension of the Philippines’ continental shelf. In summary, the baselines, the basis used for delineating the maritime territorial and jurisdictional zones (including the continental shelf), conform with the requirements of the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).[13] The claim is only a partial claim since the law that allows the Philippines to expand its territorial boundaries also includes islands in theSouth China Sea. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benham_Plateau)

According to the report mentioned by Pia Hontiveros, Benham Rise is a 13 million hectare sea bed off the coast of Aurora Province, Luzon, Philippines, that may potentially contain steel producing minerals and natural gas.

UPDATES dated March 15, 2017…the following news item taken from the website of CNN Philippines revealed that China respects the rights of the Philippine Government to its claim over the continental shelf at Benham Rise. It might be recalled that the continental shelf of the Benham Rise is contiguous to the mainland of Luzon, thus making it a rightful undersea “territory” of the Republic of the Philippines as approved by the United Nations in 2012. Here’s the Chinese press release and available on-line through CNN-Philippines’ website…here is the link…thank you.

The Philippines’ Legal Advisor based in The Hague, Netherlands, in the person of Paula Defensor-Knack stated on her FB page this opinion on Benham Rise, hereunder:

“This is the correct opinion on Benham Rise. I made it for Die Hard Fans of MDS so they know what to say when they meet an ignorant opponent online…
Benham Rise is not disputed territory. It is underwater, the ridge of a dormant volcano. The Spratlys on the other hand is disputed territory, it is a reef/ low elevation maritime feature. The ownership of the Spratleys is disputed because the arbitration tribunal could not rule on ownership of maritime features. No one owns Benham Rise but since it is continental shelf, it is in our economic zone though the continental shelf can be beyond the EEZ.” (Exclusive Economic Zone)

Updates on January 24, 2018.

On May 16, 2017, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed the Executive Order No. 25 renaming the Benham Rise to Philippine Rise. We would like to request our readers to refer back to the opinions of Atty. Paula Defensor-Knack, the Philippines’ Legal Advisor to The Hague, The Netherlands, regarding Benham Rise. Her opinion is stated in the previous update. It says:

“Benham Rise is not disputed territory. It is underwater, the ridge of a dormant volcano. The Spratlys on the other hand is disputed territory, it is a reef/ low elevation maritime feature. The ownership of the Spratleys is disputed because the arbitration tribunal could not rule on ownership of maritime features. No one owns Benham Rise but since it is continental shelf, it is in our economic zone though the continental shelf can be beyond the EEZ.” (Exclusive Economic Zone).

Earthniversity shares this opinion and therefore it is safe to conclude that the area which is within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone can be “guarded” by the Philippine Government as its “protected food supply exclusive zone”.

In one occasion, China asks the permission of the Philippine Government to conduct research on Benham Rise, the area that is beyond the Philippines’ EEZ. Benham Rise or the Philippine Rise is “not a disputed territory”, according to Atty. Paula Defensor-Knack.

In one instance, the Philippine Government had asked China to allow the fishermen to fish in the West Philippine Sea to which China agreed. This area is a disputed territory because of the land mass appearing on the sea. Many countries claim islands and islets of this disputed area.

DISCLAIMER:

The Earthniversity does not own the articles, facts and figures stated in this post as well as the videos posted herein. The facts and figures about the Benham Plateau or Benham Rise had been taken from the Wikipedia. The link is herein stated for your reference. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benham_Plateau)

Acknowledgment:

Thank you to Rappler’s Ms. Maria Ressa for the video they posted on youtube.

Thank you to TV 9 News and Current Affairs and Pia Hontiveros for the video they uploaded on youtube.

The Philippines had been one of the claimants of a string of islands, atolls, and shoals among others which are located in the disputed areas of South China Sea.

Recently, China was reported to have released chemicals into the surrounding waters of the occupied Pag-asa Island, a part of the Province of Palawan, Philippines, which resulted to the mass-killing of fish, corals and other aquatic plants and animals thereat.

This fish kill threatens the livelihood of the residents in the Island. But the Chinese were determined to continue with their action because they wanted the residents to leave the island.

Wikipedia has the following information about the Municipality of Kalayaan, to wit:

Founded on June 11, 1978 by virtue of Presidential Decree 1596.

Republic Act 9522 of 2009, defines the archipelagic baselines of the Philippines, claimed sovereignty over Kalayaan Island Group, a concept defined in the UNCLOS – United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea.

Source: https://images.search.yahoo.com

Every March 3rd is designated by the United Nations as the World Wildlife Day. Today, there are so many challenges that face every nation and country as to how they should cope with the rising problems on the protection and conservation of the world’s wildlife, specifically those that are on the brink of extinction.

Let this day, therefore, be the rallying point to focus on the several activities, programs, and projects, strategies, and approaches to Protect and Conserve the World’s Wildlife.

Every 2nd of February, the world celebrates the International Wetlands Day to re-emphasize the importance of Wetlands in Sustainable Development. This observance was the result of:

“The Ramsar Convention (formally, the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, especially as Waterfowl Habitat). It is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands,[1] recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural, scientific, and recreational value. It is named after the city of Ramsar inIran, where the Convention was signed in 1971.” (Source: Wikipedia)

The Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance now includes 2208 Sites (known as Ramsar Sites) covering over 210,734,269.41 ha (520,735,720.3 acres). The country with the highest number of Sites is the United Kingdom at 170 and the country with the greatest area of listed wetlands is Bolivia, with over 140,000 km2 (54,000 sq mi).[2] The Ramsar definition of wetlands is fairly wide, including “areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six meters” as well as fish ponds, rice paddies and salt pans.[3]

Presently there are 169 contracting parties, up from 21 initial signatory nations in 1971. The state parties meet every three years as the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP), the first held in Cagliari, Italy in 1980. Amendments to the original convention have been agreed to in Paris (in 1982) and Regina (in 1987).[4]

There is a standing committee, a scientific review panel, and a secretariat. The headquarters is located in Gland, Switzerland, shared with the IUCN.

Ramsar works closely with five (5) international organizations:

Birdlife International

IUCN – International Union For Conservation of Nature

IWMI – International Water Management Institute

Wetlands International

WWF International – World Wide Fund

The 2016 International Wetlands Day adopted the theme: Wetlands For Our Future Sustainable Livelihoods.

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramsar_Classification. The poster tells a story. From the mountains to the sea, the wetlands work for humanity – their beauty, diversity, utility. As providers of livelihood opportunities for people in the area and as habitat for plants and animals of diverse types and classes, the Wetlands need protection to make it sustainable, not only for the present but also for the future generations.

So, to better appreciate this day, let us begin by discussing what wetlands is all about.

What are wetlands?

According to Ramsar, wetlands are “areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six meters.” (https:/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramsar_Convention)

Rice paddy at Banaue, Ifugao, Philippines. (Source: The National Geographic)

Wetlands are areas where water covers the soil or is present either at or near the surface of the soil all year or for varying periods of time during the year, including during the growing season. Water saturation (hydrology) largely determines how the soil develops and the types of plant and animal communities living in and on the soil. Wetlands may support both aquatic and terrestrial species. The prolonged presence of water creates conditions that favor the growth of specially adapted plants (hydrophytes) and promote the development of characteristic wetland (hydric) soils.

Wetlands vary widely because of regional and local differences in soils, topography, climate, hydrology, water chemistry, vegetation and other factors, including human disturbance. Indeed, wetlands are found from the tundra to the tropics and on every continent except Antarctica. Two general categories of wetlands are recognized: coastal or tidal wetlands and inland or non-tidal wetlands. (Source: http://www.epa.gov)

What are the Components of Wetlands?

The US Environmental and Protection Agency stated the following as components of wetlands.

Components:

Tidal wetlands in the United States, as their name suggests, are found along the Atlantic, Pacific, Alaskan and Gulf coasts. They are closely linked to our nation’s estuaries where sea water mixes with fresh water to form an environment of varying salinities. The salt water and the fluctuating water levels (due to tidal action) combine to create a rather difficult environment for most plants. Consequently, many shallow coastal areas are unvegetated mud flats or sand flats. Some plants, however, have successfully adapted to this environment. Certain grasses and grasslike plants that adapt to the saline conditions form the tidal salt marshes that are found along the Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific coasts. Mangrove swamps, with salt-loving shrubs or trees, are common in tropical climates, such as in southern Florida and Puerto Rico. Some tidal freshwater wetlands form beyond the upper edges of tidal salt marshes where the influence of salt water ends.

Non-Tidal wetlands are most common on floodplains along rivers and streams (riparian wetlands), in isolated depressions surrounded by dry land (for example, playas, basins and “potholes”), along the margins of lakes and ponds, and in other low-lying areas where the groundwater intercepts the soil surface or where precipitation sufficiently saturates the soil (vernal pools and bogs). Inland wetlands include marshes and wet meadows dominated by herbaceous plants, swamps dominated by shrubs, and wooded swamps dominated by trees. (www.epa.gov)

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park in Palawan is considered by Ramsar as one of the important Wetlands sites in the Philippines. (Source: http://www.pre-tend.com/beautiful-places-to-visit-in-philippines/)

The island of Olango which is part of the province of Cebu is also an important wetland site in the Philippines according to Ramsar. (Source: http://www.beyondcebu.com)

Certain types of inland wetlands are common to particular regions of the country. A full list can be found here.

Many of these wetlands are seasonal (they are dry one or more seasons every year), and, particularly in the arid and semiarid West, may be wet only periodically. The quantity of water present and the timing of its presence in part determine the functions of a wetland and its role in the environment. Even wetlands that appear dry at times for significant parts of the year — such as vernal pools– often provide critical habitat for wildlife adapted to breeding exclusively in these areas. (Source: http://www.epa.gov)

Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary is considered as one of the important Wetland Sites in the Philippines by Ramsar. (Source: s.yimg.com JOJI ALCANTARA Photo.)

Functions & Values of Marshes, Swamps, Bog, Fens, others.

Marshes recharge groundwater supplies and moderate streamflow by providing water to streams. This is an especially important function during periods of drought. The presence of marshes in a watershed helps to reduce damage caused by floods by slowing and storing flood water. As water moves slowly through a marsh, sediment and other pollutants settle to the substrate or floor of the marsh. Marsh vegetation and microorganisms also use excess nutrients for growth that can otherwise pollute surface water such as nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilizer. (Source: http://www.epa.gov)

Olango Island Wildlfe Sanctuary in Cebu is also in the list of Ramsar as an important Wetlands in the Philippines. Thank you NILO ARRIBAS, JR. Photo. (Source: ttps://search.yahoo.com/search?fr=mcafee&type=C211US1134D20151124&p=Olango+island%2C+cebu)

Functions & Values of Non-Tidal Marshes and other non-tidal wetlands.

Due to their high levels of nutrients, freshwater marshes are one of the most productive ecosystems on earth. They can sustain a vast array of plant communities that in turn support a wide variety of wildlife within this vital wetland ecosystem. As a result, marshes sustain a diversity of life that is disproportionate to their size. In addition to their considerable habitat value, non-tidal marshes serve to mitigate flood damage and filter excess nutrients from surface runoff. (Source: http://www.epa.gov)

What is the importance of wetlands?

According to EPA the US Environmental Protection Agency through its website – http://www.epa.gov/wetlands/why-are-wetlands-important:

“Wetlands are important features in the landscape that provide numerous beneficial services for people and for fish and wildlife. Some of these services, or functions, include protecting and improving water quality, providing fish and wildlife habitats, storing floodwaters and maintaining surface water flow during dry periods. These valuable functions are the result of the unique natural characteristics of wetlands.

Hereunder is the link to U.S. EPA on the discussion that focuses on restoration and conservation.

This is the Ilog River Estuary where wetlands can also be found. It is located in the southern part of Negros Occidental, Philippines. It is the sanctuary of different species of migratory and native birds, wildlife and home to plants. It also provides livelihood opportunities to the local fisherfolks and farmers. (Source: scienceray.com or http://s3.amazonaws.com/readers/2012/04/11/2_2.jpg)

Observation/Remark. To ensure success in the protection and conservation of wetlands, there is a need for community involvement. Hereunder, a link is provided for you to get some ideas on how a community gets involved in the protection and conservation of their wetlands. This refers to Volunteer Monitoring. It also discusses the importance of community volunteers to monitor the different species of fishes and other animals that make the wetlands their habitat and how they can also be protected.

Wherever you are situated, your country’s wetlands are an important part of your environment. In it, lies the different species of fishes, wildlife, endangered species of plants and other animals that contribute to a balanced eco-systems. As previously mentioned, the wetlands have enumerable benefits not only to the soil and living organisms that make it their habitat but more importantly to people who benefits from many resources that the wetlands produce.

As an income generator or livelihood provider, the Wetlands must be protected and conserved so that eco-tourism, fishery, food production, natural beauty of the locality and sustainable development, as a whole, can be achieved.

For the local community, specifically in Asia and the Philippines, the following programs and projects can be considered to protect and conserve the Wetlands. a) Survey the existing wetlands in your community; b) Identify its inhabitants such as fishes, turtles, birds and other animals, kinds of grasses and other forms of life that depend its existence upon this wetland; c) Identify the different uses of the wetland such as fishing, food production, eco-tourism and many others; d) conduct a strategic planning workshop to identify the existing situation of the wetland, its prospects for the future, the ways and means to achieve and reach this future, and strategies and approaches to its sustainable development; e) Identify and motivate the support of the local community by organizing a group of Local Volunteers for the protection and conservation of the wetland; f) Design a Sustainable Development Plan for the Wetland in cooperation with local community, the local officials, the government, and civil society; g) the local Environment Office should take the lead in organizing a Technical Working Group or a Committee that should implement, monitor, evaluate and sustain all activities.

You can adopt this motto to make your work effective – “Act locally and think globally” to protect and conserve a more sustainable wetland. If everybody does it locally, imagine what will the effects be to the world because of this local and then global activities. It is immensely great. Right?

The Philippines is the home of five (5) important Wetlands Sites identified by the Ramsar. These are:

Wildlife Sanctuary, Agusan del Sur

Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Cebu

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, Palawan

Puerto Princesa Subterranean River Natural Park, Palawan

Las Pinas-Paranaque Critical Habitat and Ecosystem Area.

Other sources mentioned Naujan Lake National Park at Oriental Mindoro. Here is the photo from chendelmundoMD’s site.

This is Naujan Lake National Park at Oriental Mindoro. (Source: flyinstyledaily.blogspot.com)

The Philippine government, the Local Government Units such as the Provinces, Cities and Municipalities are actively involved in the forefront as leaders in the conservation and protection of these wetlands.

In closing, Earthniversity would like to emphasize that there are other activities that the community can think of, implement and monitor in order to achieve the local goals of protecting and conserving the Wetlands.

Earthniversity would like to acknowledge its various sources of information in coming up with this discussion. All sources of materials such as texts and photographs used here have been individually cited. Thank you to you all.

Earthniversity does not own these ideas but cites the different sources of information to come up with a more organized presentation regarding the Wetlands and how the people in the community can help to protect and conserve these Wetlands.

The non-stop reclamation project of China in the disputed group of islands and islets at the West Philippine Sea or the Spratly group of islands has been causing great irreparable damage to the Biodiversity in that region. The damage had been observed in the shoals and atolls that included the Johnson Reef, McKennan Reef, Mischief Reef, Cuarteron Reef, Gaven Reef and Fiery Cross Reef. Through the UN intervention, this act of defiance by China should, immediately, stop.

This is the substance of the recently concluded meeting of countries at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

The report stated that “Ambassador Lourdes O. Yparraguirre, Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations, issued her warning before a hundred UN legal experts in a June 10 forum organized by the Philippines that focused on the protection and preservation of the marine environment. With the theme, “UNCLOS and the Protection of the Marine Environment,” the event was held at the sidelines of the week-long 25th Meeting of States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (SPLOS) at the UN Headquarters.”

(Source: Jane Perlez, the New York Times)

For a detailed discussion on this issue, please click the link hereunder.